Ask Handyman

How can I improve my garden soil?

Q I can’t get anything but weeds to grow in my garden. The soil is so hard and rocky. What can I do?

Bob Swanson, Casper, WY

A Sounds like you’re between a rock and a hard place (sorry, I couldn’t resist). Here are two ways out of your dilemma. The first is to dig out the top 12 in. of the old soil and replace it with a rich, fertile mix. But I think the better way is to build a raised planting bed. Here are its advantages:

• The raised bed is filled with a quality garden soil.

• The soil won’t become excessively compacted because you don’t walk on it. This allows for good drainage and air movement down in the root zone.

• The garden is easier to plant and maintain because it’s at a more convenient height. With the bed at 18 to 20 in., you can sit on the edge and work comfortably; 28 to 30 in. allows for wheelchair accessibility.

• If you’re working on a slope, the raised bed creates a level terrace.

• The planter becomes a strong landscape design element.

Make the raised bed planter as long as you wish, but limit its width to 4 ft. so you can work the garden from both sides. Reaching in more than 2 ft. is hard on the back.

Consider the specific plants to determine the raised bed’s depth. It should be a minimum of 8 in. This will accommodate the roots of lettuce and radishes, but root vegetables and many perennials require more depth, so consider building it12 to 18 in. deep.

While the raised bed can be built from any of a variety of materials, modular concrete retaining wall blocks ($4.50 each) are ideal. Their uniform shape makes them easy to install, they’ll last forever and their loose-laid installation allows for good drainage. Be sure to put a landscape fabric liner behind them to keep the soil from washing through the blocks.

A good general garden soil mix is one-third topsoil, one-third composted manure and one-third sand. First mix these together with a shovel and then fill the raised bed. Establish and maintain the soil’s fertility with mulch, composted organic material and/or chemical fertilizers.

Is it OK to glue PVC to ABS?

Q I’m moving a sink as part of my bath remodeling project. The drain piping is black ABS, but the home center only carries white PVC pipe. Is there a glue that will allow me to fasten one to the other?

Joseph Campbell, Akron, OH

A Most plumbing codes don’t allow ABS pipe to be solvent-welded (glued) to PVC. Check with your local plumbing inspector. The proper way is to use a transition coupling, a neoprene rubber sleeve that fits over each pipe. It’s then held tight with a stainless steel metal jacket and integral clamps. The coupling will be labeled as to which type of pipe (plastic ABS and PVC, steel, cast iron, copper) each end can be fastened to. Look for a plastic-to-plastic designation on the coupling.

When inserting a pipe between two fixed ends, cut the new piece to leave an 1/8-in. gap at both joints. Loosen and slide the metal jacket and clamps off the rubber sleeves and slide the jackets onto the fixed pipes. Push one end of the rubber sleeve onto the fixed pipe and then roll back the other end (see photo) to make room for the new piece of pipe. Hold the new piece of pipe between the two fixed pipe ends and unroll the rubber sleeves over the ends of the new pipe. Next, slide the metal jackets over the rubber sleeves and tighten the clamps. Snug them up with a socket wrench.

New safety rule for propane tanks

If your gas grill is powered with a propane tank, be advised that the tank may no longer be refillable after April 1, 2002.On that date, a code change takes effect that states that all 4- to 40-lb. propane tank valves must be equipped with an overflow protection device (OPD). This device addresses the danger of tanks leaking because of overfilling. About half the states have adopted thenew code, but most major propane suppliers will no longer fill noncompliant tanks.

The OPD valve handle has three lobes (see photo); the non-OPD valves don’t. Your non-OPD tank can be fitted with a new code-compliant valve, but the cost may well exceed the cost of a new tank.

Tip: The easiest way to replace an obsolete tank with an OPD-equipped one is through a cylinder exchange program.

Art Direction • GREGG WEIGAND

Photography • BILL ZUEHLKE